In today's culture, fitness is everywhere. From 10 minute abs, 21 day this to a month of that, there certainly exists a highly saturated world of fitness. What has intrigued me about this subculture is the immense variety. There is a regime out there for anyone and everyone.

Tasha Price has been a personal trainer for nearly 10 years and leads the Shasta Rock Club fitness classes. Recently, we caught up to chat about her passion for people, fitness and living a healthy lifestyle. One of the most thought-provoking elements of our conversation revolved around people's relationship with “working out.” Her insights on physical activity were curiously liberating and even caused me to reflect on how I define working out. Check out some of our conversation:

Q. Why do you workout?

A. I focus on immediate benefits and long term benefits. The immediate benefits of working out are increased energy, confidence and peace. It gives me an outlet to clear my mind, which allows room for creative ideas and simply feeling more connected to myself.

Our body is worth investing in. It is the vehicle that takes us through our day and different seasons of life. When we take a few moments each day to walk, move, jump and get our heart rate up, not only does it kickstart the day, but also provides momentum for tomorrow.

Q. What does “working out” mean to you?

A. Working out can mean so many different things. It's not just going to the gym and doing so many reps or rounds of a movement. Although that style is great, working out can mean just purposed movement in your day. Riding a bike, walking the dog, playing frisbee or even just doing intentional stretching after dinner. Physical activity is meant to be fun! Often times people have a poor relationship with “working out” because they associate it with a negative experience. Pain or punishment are common thoughts surrounding physical activity, whether from a sport in high school to trying to lose weight.

This is huge. Redefining what it means to “work out” is a big step in taking the pressure off of ourselves. It is essential we have a healthy relationship with how we view physical activity. What if we were successful each day in our attempt to work out, simply by looking through a different lens?

Q. What do you do to motivate yourself when you don't feel like working out?

A. First of all, I have a good relationship with physical exercise. I give myself permission to stop after 5 minutes if I am just not feeling it. Fitness isn't punishment and you shouldn't feel slave to it. I focus on the immediate benefits. Feeling great, clear and peaceful are at the forefront of my mind, instead of dwelling on the negatives.

Permission to quit after 5 minutes?! This was a foreign concept to me. Wouldn't you just stop every day after 5 minutes? What about pushing through the pain and enduring no matter the cost? But the more I talked to Tasha, the more I realized she genuinely loved physical activity. Especially when it involved other people.

Q. What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to someone who is going after a fitness goal?

A. Feeling unmotivated, facing obstacles, and asking “is this even worth it?,” is completely normal! It is easy to identify what is challenging, and often times difficult to focus on the positives. Embrace the good of the journey. The change that takes place while going after a goal is just as important as the end result. Also, keep it light and fun! Invite a friend, get plugged into a community and don't take yourself too seriously.

The process of moving toward a goal is transforming. It's not just about standing atop your fitness goal mountain and waiving the flag of victory, but all of the smaller victories preceding that moment. Keep your eyes on the step in front of you, and before you know it, the top will be near.

Q. Speaking of goals, what have you been able to achieve due to living a healthy and fit lifestyle?

A. I actually had the opportunity to run a marathon in place of a cross country coach who had cancer, which was an incredible experience! When I was in the Air Force Boot Camp, I received the “Top Athlete” award out of men and women which was a huge honor. Prioritizing my health and physical fitness has allowed me to seize a variety of opportunities. When I started rock climbing, I quickly realized many movements from my training background translated really well to being on the wall.

Tasha mentioned something that struck a chord in me. Through these endeavors, she learned perseverance. By engaging physically with the world around us, an inner muscle also gets strengthened, giving us the courage to face our daily obstacles.

Q. So I've got to ask, what is your least favorite type of working out?

A. Iso-metric movements!! Planking or anything of that nature I just don't enjoy!

Okay cool, she is human.

Q. What can people expect from SRC's fitness classes?

A. Lots of variety! Our goal is to create an upbeat and positive atmosphere that incorporates many styles of fitness. Working out should be fun, and it's even better when you are doing it with a community of people who care. The programming is diverse and aims to help people improve their rock climbing, but also for anyone just wanting to develop their overall fitness level. From strength and endurance, to power and game-style workouts, the classes will have something for everyone.